Y/N's POV

It was our day off. One day every two weeks we would all take a break and relax. Ashton had taken me to the Lake, he had packed a picnic for us.

While we're only friends, I couldn't help but feel like this was a date. I didn't want to say anything though, just in case it wasn't and things get awkward.

I was happy to get some alone time with Ashton, he is good company and it's nice to have someone new to talk to.

We had set off and walked in a comfortable silence through the woods towards the secluded lake.

It was peaceful. Nature was tingling my senses. I was thankful for a change of scenery for once. I don't think I've left the confines of the village in over two months.

We eventually reached the lake and I took a seat on a patch of ground that didn't look too dirty. Ashton sat down next to me, stretching his legs out in front of him and leaning back on his hands.

He looked so relaxed as he stared out over the calm lake. He seemed so tranquil and natural and I thought it was absolutely beautiful.

His head slowly turns to me and I look away, hoping that he didn't catch me staring, but I could tell from the look in his eye that he did. A small smile appeared on his face.

"What made you want to come here?" I ask him as I look out over the sparkling blue water.

Ashton shrugs. "I found it when I was out hunting, I just think it's the perfect place to just sit and relax."

Ashton sat up slightly, reached into his bag and pulled out a loaf of bread. I could tell by the shape of it that Lisa didn't bake it, it was slightly deformed but it looked edible.

"Lisa's been teaching me to make bread" Ashton says as if he could read my mind.

"You made it?" I asked, slightly shocked that he had gone to the effort of making it himself when Lisa is baking almost all the time.

He tore off a piece and handed it to me. He looked anxious as I brought it to my lips. I took a bite. It tasted good. Not amazing, but it wasn't bad.

"Mhm" I hum trying to reassure him that his cooking wasn't terrible.

Ashton's face lightens in relief. He takes a bite himself. We both stare out over the lake, a peaceful silence falling over us.

"I miss this" I say, breaking the silence.

Ashton's face turns to look at me. "Miss what?" he asks.

"Having time to myself, just sitting outside and doing nothing without a care in the world" I say as I watch a duck swim across the lake, a trail of ducklings following behind it.

"Can I say something?" Ashton says, turning to look at me.

I gesture for him to go on.

"I think you spend so much time caring for everyone else, you forget to take time for yourself and just enjoy life" he said bluntly.

He was right. I can't remember the last time I had a moment to myself to do something I wanted, even if it were nothing at all.

"Don't you want to go somewhere else, get married, have a family of your own? Do something outside this village?" he continued.

I shrugged "I don't know. As far as I'm concerned, those people are my family and they need me. I'm not going to leave them while they still need me. If that means I can't settle down somewhere else then, so be it." I state.

"You could still settle down" Ashton suggests, fiddling with his hands as he looks out over the lake.

"With who?" I chuckle. "Everyone's too young for me and Calum's a brother to me" I state.

"But I'm not" he mutters.

"What?" I say in shock, my head turning to look at him as my mind runs wild with what he was insinuating.

He looks at me. The expression on his face unreadable as he took a moment to think about what he was going to say.

"I like you okay, I think you're amazing and beautiful and...And I want us to be more than friends" he says, his hazel eyes looking into mine, full of hope.

I was speechless. So he did want this to be a date. I smirked to myself.

Ashton's became progressively more anxious every second I remained silent. I'm glad that Ashton liked me.

I thought he would never look at me that way, after all I don't consider myself that pretty and I spend the majority of my life looking after 30 minors. The thought that he actually wanted to be with someone like me was strange but heartwarming.

"What are you smirking at?" he states. I could tell he wasn't trying to sound rude, but the fact that I hadn't said anything after he confessed his feelings was obviously bothering him.

"I was just thinking about how, when you brought me here, I was kind of hoping it was a date" I smile at him.

Ashton's face brightens, "Seriously?"

I nod my head, "I like you Ashton, I just didn't think you'd like me" I smile at him.

He smiles back, his cute dimples making an appearance. He shuffles closer to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulder.

I lean against him, tilting my head to rest it against his shoulder. We stare out over the calm water. I can't help the smile on my face.

-

I don't know how long we were sat there, it was as if time flew by. Every moment spent in his presence brought a relaxing feeling to my body and soul. It was foreign to me, but I welcomed it. It was nice to just sit and do nothing.

We stroll, hand in hand, back to the village. The sun just disappearing over the horizon. We talked about anything and everything as we walked through the woods. Eventually we arrived back at our hut. He holds the door open for me to enter.

"My lady" he bows extravagantly as I walk past him. I chuckle loudly, turning to face him as he closes the door behind him.

The last rays of sunlight were coming through the windows. The orange light made his hair glow. He looked like an angel, the light perfectly framing his face.

I look into his hazel eyes. Breathless at how beautiful he looked. Before I could do anything, he was leaning forward, closing the distance between us.

His soft lips press against mine. I reach up and tangle my hands in his hair, unable to resist the luscious curls. He moves his lips against mine, they were warm and soft, yet firm at the same time. I had never kissed a man before and I wasn't entirely sure what to do, although he seemed quite content leading.

I felt his hands grip my hips, pulling my body closer to him. I could feel his firm chest against me. His tongue traced my bottom lip, the action took me by surprise and I nearly jumped backward at the foreign feeling. I parted my lips, his tongue intertwined with mine. He slowly backed me up towards his bed.

I knew where this was going. I always thought I would wait until marriage to fully give myself to someone, but maybe I just told myself that due to lack of opportunity.

Now that I am here with him, I feel the desire, the passion between us. I want him, I need him.   

A/N: I know that this escalated quickly but it needs to for the sake of the plot line.